Obscura

A hazy grey sky loomed overhead. In the clearing there, it was time for me to bestow my final gift upon Aria. She stood there, grasping the lance, a stern expression painted upon her face.

“Cordelia…”

“Aria.”

I extended my hands, gently placing them on hers. “I’m glad I was able to meet someone like you. To choose someone like you to wield that lance…”

I gazed into her eyes, smiling. “Aria… You mean so much to me. So, I’m glad I can finally entrust you with this – an ascended power of your Brand.”

Aria smiled back, as I felt her conviction unwavering. When I found her, she was incredibly selfless, but to a fault. Aria had a tendency to overwork herself and push her limits. Her Brand made her feel like she had to always be the one to take on everyone else’s pain and burdens. These are very good qualities indeed, but it created an uncertainty – a darkness in her heart.

I knew from the moment I met her, that it had to be her. She would be the one to wield my lance, and maybe – if she could grow from that darkness; if I could illuminate her heart and take her across the world with me, then she could truly be ready to wield the full power of my Brand, and fight against the impending calamity.

And throughout our journeys, she felt herself freed from her self-imposed burdens as a mercenary. I saw her soul blossom into a heart of freedom and adventure. And within that, she found new conviction and purpose for herself – for her life.

She was ready now.

“Aria, the time is nigh.”

I was gazing downwards in my reminiscence, so I shifted my eyes back to meet hers.

"With everything we've been through together… This is it. This is the moment."

I grasped her hands, closer to me.

"As the goddess Thaliann, I grant you this boon."

I began the ritual. Aria’s eyes sparkled in wonder as light began to surround us. The light of the lance, the light of my power, the newfound light in her heart – all of it, I could feel it in this moment.

"Branded of mine, awaken now to the full power of--"

But it went dark.

~

I was engulfed in Cordelia’s light just a moment ago. That same light I felt when I first met her, but stronger.

So where the hell am I?!

It’s dark. It’s dark it’s dark it’s dark it’s dark it’s dark I can’t see a thing.

Where is Cordelia? She was right in front of me!

I cursed under my breath. Not only is it dark, my body feels dark. Actually, where is my body?! Damn it. Everything is too confusing right now. It’s like I disappeared. It’s like Cordelia disappeared…

What the hell is going on?!?!

~

Unexpectedly, a sudden spark of divine energy burst forth from Aria’s body. She winced, and fell to her knees as the lance fell to her side. The sky went dark; the energy surging from her body was immense, pulsing across the clearing – and throughout the forest surrounding us.

She was in pain. Her eyes were looking nowhere in particular. She was gasping for air, and grasping at her chest.

"A... Aria?!"

No response. It’s as if she didn’t see me.

I had never seen anything like it. But this energy I felt… There’s no mistaking it.

“No... No! This can't be happening!"

~

"I am your King. Listen to my truth. And destroy the lies of your gods."

Before me was an apparition of a strange figure. In this void – who knows where – he spoke to me. And he was the only thing in my mind. Overbearing, overtaking me. I had no choice but to listen.

“This world of Chrysathelia is a corrupt world. It is the false order created by selfish, traitorous gods. Luxana, Lunaer, Phosphoria, Glaciae… and of course, Thaliann.”

“Thaliann?! But– she–”

“She’s a traitor. She is using you, deceiving you. I cannot forgive her for turning on the true order. For betraying her king…”

“What are you talking about?!”

“Long ago, these five gods defected from the Kingdom of Gods, of which I am king, and created a new world. A false world where they could use humans to fulfill their selfish desires.”

A vision appeared to me of the past. The founding of Chrysathelia…

“Gods and mortals should not mix and mingle. They should remain ever separate. And it is my duty as the King of Gods to assert order over humanity. In their original world, Phosphel. And not the false new world, Chrysathelia.”

No, but… I love Cordelia. I wanted to stay by her side.

“Humans, although mortal, are deceptively full of potential. If a human is given godlike powers, they will want to overthrow the gods. The true order is at risk of becoming overthrown. Gods would fall. Reality as we know it would collapse.”

No… But all this time, Chrysathelia has maintained its order, hasn’t it?!

“So, I maintain order. They must remain mortal. They must be kept in check, and ruled over. This is why you must destroy Chrysathelia. And destroy your false gods, with their selfish naivety. Do you understand?”

I wanted to say no. I wanted to refuse. But in this void of my mind, this “King” was overtaking each and every one of my senses. All I could feel, see, and hear was him. His power was everywhere in my body.

“I understand. I will carry out your orders, my King.”

~

There’s no mistaking it. This is the calamity.

All this time, was it for nothing?!

Aria’s body was shrouded in a darkness, and from the darkness, she emerged – almost completely changed, almost unrecognizable from the Aria that was there before. Dark horns sprouted from her head, a wicked gaze across her face, and six wings at her back as she took flight.

I don't have a choice! I have to fight!

I quickly grabbed the lance she dropped on the floor, and took off after her.

“Aria!”

I called out to her, but she lunged forward at me.

"Thaliann... Oh, Thaliann, I'll NEVER forgive you!"

I moved back to dodge.

"Aria! Aria, please, listen to me! What's happened to you?!"

"You made this false world -- Chrysathelia. You betrayed your King's rightful order."

She lunged forward again, and I parried.

"No! Chrysathelia is a world of love and hope."

But with those words… Wait – “King?” But that means...!

This power is Sandalphon’s. That damned bastard. Even though he left and let Chrysathelia rebuild itself after the war’s destruction… He… He was planning this all along.

With the power of my Brand, and with the power of Sandalphon… She…

I didn’t anticipate I’d be fighting Sandalphon again… Not like this…

I vowed, all those years ago, that I wouldn’t let Sandalphon take another life from Chrysathelia again. I had mourned so much in the War of Origin. When I heard about the calamity from Diora, I had to do everything I could to be prepared for it. I couldn’t let this world experience such devastation again. No, I had to protect it.

But my plan… Aria…

He took Aria. Why did it have to be Aria?!

"Sandalphon... SANDALPHON!!!"

For the first time in all these thousands of years, I let my full power as a goddess unleash. I may be the goddess of healing, but I have power to fight, as well.

"I'm going to defeat you -- and free Aria from your grasp!!!"

More blows were exchanged. The Aria I knew was long gone, instead, was my enemy using the face of the one I loved so much. The piled-up animosity I felt towards Sandalphon reawakened as our fight continued on in the skies. The fury and rage, the sadness, the grief – it was unbearable. I didn’t want to feel like this again.

"Thaliann... This is only the beginning. Do you really think you can win?"

"It's been a few thousand years. We have strength in the bond between mortal and divine."

She scoffed at me. "Your bonds are meaningless compared to the might of the King of Gods! And to think I used to believe in these bonds. To think I might've LOVED you."

Those words struck me. In an instant, it almost felt as if a dagger was pierced through my chest. My eyes widened, staring at her in disbelief.

Sandalphon, what have you done to her…?

Aria… She was gone. Everything I was doing to try to protect this world; thinking I had finally found someone who could protect this world with me – she was just… gone. Stolen from under my nose.

"We are dragons. I am Aria, the Queen of Dragons. And this is the reckoning of your deceitful world."